SAB KickStart Ignite finalists named

Mar 17, 2017

SAB KickStart Ignite, the South African Breweries’ (SAB) entrepreneurship programme which supports the development of young innovators, has announced 18 finalists in the 2016 competition who are makers and creators of viable business concepts, ideas or products.
Competing for their share of the R1,2-million grant funding, the SAB KickStart Ignite winners will be announced on 23 March 2017.
SAB KickStart Ignite is aimed at people between the ages of 18 and 35 years who have a commercially viable product or idea aligned to the Manufacturing or ICT industry which makes use of one or more of the following materials: 3D printing, leather, wood, metal, laser and vinyl cutting, software design programs including CAD/CAM, and electronics including development of Internet of Things technology with Arduino and Raspberri Pi.
The 2016 SAB KickStart Ignite finalists were selected last year and have been in incubation for six months. During the incubation stage, these candidates have had the opportunity of turning their ideas into commercially viable products and services, through the support of resident engineers and business trainers. They have progressed through technical and business mentorship, peer learning, networking and the use of advanced technology infrastructure.
SAB KickStart was developed in May 1995 as a poverty alleviation programme which later supported the development of youth entrepreneurship.
Some of the SAB KickStart’s successes over 20 years include supporting, at a total investment of over R100-million, 24 558 entrepreneurs and the creation of 3 458 youth-owned businesses, which have each created an average of 6,7 jobs.
“The comprehensive support afforded to participants by SAB KickStart has ensured the survival of many start-ups which ordinarily have short lifespans. According to an independent impact study done in 2013, at least 84% of all businesses which participated in SAB KickStart were still in operation after three years,” says SAB corporate affairs director, Nirishi Trikamjee.
“SAB KickStart Ignite is assisting in the government objective of economic growth by backing these entrepreneurs and their innovative ideas with potential to create jobs. At this early stage of development, many banks won’t take the risk but we believe our programme creates future business leaders.”
The 2016 SAB KickStart Ignite finalists are:
Didi Mohapi, 27, established MHPLabs in 2017 and provides mobile diagnostic laboratory services to state hospitals, clinics, and healthcare practitioners as well as their patients.
Thanyani Ramuhashi, 27, conceptualised her financial advisory platform in 2015 and her company, Sceltofin, was registered early in 2017.
Tshepo Ntokoane, 34, of Lenaka Multimedia is developing three-dimensional (3D) animated African folktale stories to be told and shared.
Katleho Monareng, 22, of Umgabulo Security Solutions, a private security company that provides armed and unarmed services to private and public residents in-and-around Bloemfontein.
Phuti Lamola, 34, established Phuti Food Manufacturing – which produces Nutritious soya mince soup in a variety of flavours – in 2015.
Maputle Tsoka, 28, Founded Evolutionary Innovations in 2016, a company that specialises int construction of quality and affordable oral prostheses, which include cleft palate obstructors, dentures and dental crowns.
Mahlatse Ncha, 22, established Lily Southern Suppliers. A culinary herb farm and supply business, in 2016.
Nkgafeng Matibidi, 29, founder of Moletsaodutse Projects, which will see furniture manufactured from plastic.
Thando Somacele, 26, conceptualised One Learn in 2015 Thando and his Partner Sifiso Pesane, to improve National Senior Certificate results across a number of subjects (especially mathematica and science within the current education system.
Tshiamo Shomang, 24, is the Founder of YeePerk, an online small-to-medium enterprise (SME) discount platform that helps entrepreneurs with business-to-business (B2B) tools as well as products and services.
Sizwe Mavauso, 34, conceptualised a water harvesting system in 2015, as a means to help eradicate water shortage in the community.
Simphiwe Mantini, 29, is the owner of an hotelier software company called Chefchenko.
Tshepo Nkopane, 23, founded enviroCentral, an environmental technical business that detects water leaks and moniter consumption in the home.
Khulekani Mncube, 27, created Connect Me a web app to help locals and tourists efficiently make use of public transportation.
Ncibane Stuurman, 30, founded Mr. Pop Up Car Wash, an eco-friendly car wash business in 2016.
David Mpyatona, 25, conceptualised Flow in 2015, an accounting software system that provides tailor-made solutions to small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
Thembisile Sizwe Mngadi, 23, is the founder of MegaDose, an online marketing and m-commerce platform.
Mabuse Sekogothe, 32, started his gym fitting and technical service company, Makeishine Tecnologies in 2015.